Notes from the field.
Soil biology, plant nutrition, and what we are seeing in real fields. Written for growers who want the reasoning, not just the recommendation.
Why Regeneration Starts With Observation, Not Action
Regenerative farming starts with observation. Learn how field patterns, soil indicators, and changes over time lead to more precise input decisions.
How Thermophilic Composting Still Happens in Cold Weather
Learn how thermophilic compost generates heat in winter and how pile balance, moisture, oxygen, mass, and microbes keep decomposition active.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 12: Zinc
Learn how zinc supports hormone balance, enzyme activity, early root growth, reproduction, and crop timing—and how to recognize zinc deficiency.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 11: Sulfur
Learn how sulfur turns nitrogen into protein, supports chlorophyll and plant defense, and why modern crops need a dependable sulfur supply.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 10: Silicon
Learn how silicon strengthens plant tissue and helps crops handle disease, heat, drought, and salinity, with the biggest responses often in grasses.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 9: Selenium
Learn how small amounts of selenium can support antioxidant defenses, crop stress tolerance, and the nutritional value of food and feed crops.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 8: Nickel
Learn how nickel powers urease, helps plants recycle urea, completes nitrogen metabolism, and supports seed development and crop maturity.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 7: Molybdenum
Learn why molybdenum is essential for nitrate reduction and biological nitrogen fixation—and how low levels can mimic nitrogen deficiency.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 6: Manganese
Learn how manganese starts photosynthesis, activates key enzymes, supports stress response, and how to identify manganese deficiency in the field.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 5: Iron
Learn how iron supports chlorophyll formation, photosynthesis, respiration, and energy transfer—and why high-pH soils often make iron unavailable.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 4: Copper
Learn how copper coordinates plant-defense enzymes, lignin formation, energy flow, and structural strength—and how to recognize and correct shortages.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 3: Cobalt
Learn how cobalt helps regulate ethylene, crop maturity, stress response, and nitrogen fixation in legumes, even though plants need only trace amounts.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 2: Chloride
Learn how chloride supports photosynthesis, water balance, turgor, electrical balance, and disease resistance—and why it is not the same as salt.
The Forgotten Elements Series, Part 1: Boron
Learn how boron supports cell walls, sugar movement, flowering, seed set, and reproductive growth—and why small deficiencies can cut efficiency.
The Phosphorus We Already Own
Many soils already hold substantial phosphorus. Learn how soil biology, roots, and management can release and recycle more of the phosphorus you own.
Cold Soil, Slowing Biology: What Happens to Nutrients in the Fall
Learn how cold soils slow microbes and nutrient cycling in fall, which nutrients are affected most, and how moisture and living roots keep biology...
The Truth About Nitrification Inhibitors and Soil Life
Nitrification and urease inhibitors do exactly what they’re designed to do — they hold nitrogen in place. But slowing that process also slows the...
The Science of Residue Breakdown: Fungi vs. Bacteria
Learn how bacteria and fungi divide residue breakdown, why corn stalks need fungal activity, and how carbon balance and timing affect decay.